Delavay privet (Ligustrum delavayanum): when and how to prune

Delavay privet (Ligustrum delavayanum): when to prune it?

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Clip two to three times a year between May and September: a first time in May, a second in July and possibly once more in September.

What else to prune in those months? May · July · September

Delavay privet (Ligustrum delavayanum): how to prune it?

1. Use sharp shears or secateurs and take off a little of the new growth each time.
2. Keep the shape slightly wider at the base so the lower branches also get light.
3. Do not clip in full sun on a hot day, as exposed leaves can scorch.
4. To renew a neglected shrub, cut back in April to strong, healthy buds.

How much to cut, and how often?

• There are 3 pruning periods a year: May, July and September. You don’t have to prune in every one.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in May and July can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Delavay privet (Ligustrum delavayanum) flowers in June, when it attracts bees.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Privet
• Wild privet
• Japanese privet
• Barberry
• Blackberry
• Blackthorn

Plant profile: Delavay privet (Ligustrum delavayanum) · Pruning calendar and basic rules